Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Accepts Dhananjay Munde's Resignation

Mumbai, March 4 (NationPress) - The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, has officially accepted the resignation of Dhananjay Munde from the Council of Ministers.

Munde, who held the position of Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, resigned amidst growing controversy surrounding his aide, Walmik Karad, who has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

While announcing the acceptance of the resignation, CM Fadnavis stated, “Dhananjay Munde has submitted his resignation to me. I have accepted it, and it has been forwarded to the Governor for further action. Munde is now relieved from his ministerial duties.”

Earlier on the same day, Munde's personal assistant delivered the resignation letter to the Chief Minister’s Office at Fadnavis’ Sagar bungalow.

Due to his diagnosis of Bell’s Palsy (which causes partial paralysis), Munde chose not to appear in person and remained at the official residence.

On the same day, opposition members protested at the entrance of Vidhan Bhavan, calling for the resignations of both Munde and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, who was recently convicted in a case involving fake documents.

Despite Munde's initial hesitance to resign, it was CM Fadnavis who urged him to step down, particularly as calls for accountability intensified from both ruling and opposition parties as well as various social organizations. His resignation followed the widespread circulation of photos and videos related to Deshmukh’s murder on television.

Days prior, a detailed 1800-page charge sheet filed by the state CID identified Munde’s close associate, Walmik Karad, as the key figure in the daylight murder of Santosh Deshmukh, which occurred last December.

The charge sheet details eight accused individuals, including Karad, although one, Krishna Andhale, remains at large.

Karad has already faced charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in connection with the extortion linked to Deshmukh’s murder.

Munde faced significant pressure to resign, but both he and the NCP maintained that he would step down only after the results of investigations by the CID, a special investigation team, and a judicial committee were revealed. NCP president and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar emphasized that the party condemned the brutal killing of the Massajog sarpanch, asserting that they would assess Munde’s resignation based on the investigation's outcome and any court orders. Pawar reminded Munde of his own previous resignation on moral grounds related to the irrigation scam.

The charge sheet was filed last week, supported by matching voice samples from Karad and employees of the company involved. CCTV footage linked the accused to the murder case and the extortion crime.

Police sources indicated that following a CID investigation involving around 180 witnesses, Walmik was identified as the mastermind behind the crime. The evidence against the eight accused, including Karad, was compiled under the supervision of Investigation Officer Basavaraj Teli and reviewed by forensic experts.

In relation to the extortion case, Walmik is accused of orchestrating the crime, reportedly stating, “End him as soon as he comes; otherwise, he will be forced to beg.”

Among those accused, Sudarshan Ghule and his accomplices are implicated in organized crime. The charge sheet reveals that they committed 11 offenses over the past decade in regions including Kej, Ambajogai in Beed district, as well as Dharur and Kalamb in the Dharashiv district.